Operation Santa, started by the Rho Pi chapter of Alpha Phi Omega at UCSD, is an annual relief project aimed at giving back to the San Diego community by helping out as many families in need during the Christmas holiday.

Many of the families Operation Santa assists are single parents, military or those facing extraordinary medical expenses. Since 2007, the group’s numbers have grown from helping two families in its first year to 127 families last year.

Through Operation Santa, the community can be directly involved with the families by nominating, adopting or donating to a family in need.

Participants can nominate families for help through the online nomination form. As adopters of a family, participants buy gifts for a nominated family from the family’s wish list.

Adopters are also given the choice of personally delivering the presents to the family. The final option for participation, donations, can be made in both monetary and non-monetary forms all year round. Many of the families are asking for basic necessities like food, clothing and bedding. Every donation goes right back to helping the families.

This year, Operation Santa has received more than 150 nominations and is still looking for adopters and donors. Adopters can fill out the online form at www.operationsantaSD.org. Donations can be made through an online PayPal link and mailing address, also found on the website.

In addition, Operation Santa is inviting the community to its third annual gift-wrapping workshop on Dec. 3 from 8 to 10 p.m. at UCSD’s Price Center Ballroom East. At this event, fraternity brothers and volunteers will help wrap presents and prepare them for delivery.

If you would like to adopt a family, donate or have any questions or comments, visit www.operationsantaSD.org or www.facebook.com/opsanta, or email opsanta@apo.org.

Operation Santa calls on holiday heroes Operation Santa, started by the Rho Pi chapter of Alpha Phi Omega at UCSD, is an annual relief project aimed at giving back to the San Diego community by helping out as many families in need during...